The final weekend of English Premier League action is sadly here. Bettors and fans alike will be without the thrilling excitement and endless entertainment for a few months, though there will still be the excitement of player movement during the offseason.
Manchester City is in pole position for the title, while Chelsea recently locked up a top-four spot, and Tottenham took over the driver’s seat for the fourth position as Arsenal continues to flounder when it matters the most.
Here are the best bets to place for this weekend’s concluding schedule of Premier League action.
Top Match-Winner: Manchester City (-500)
If Manchester City wins the match, they win the title— barring any unforeseen dropped points by Liverpool.
It is unlikely that an up-and-down Aston Villa with far less talent and less to play for will take down a team that has dominated the league for years and could have its best-ever squad.
Man City is also no longer competing in the Champions League or any other competitions, meaning that they will be at full availability and able to trot out their best possible lineup, which is far superior to Aston Villa’s.
Top Match Total: Norwich City / Tottenham Under 2.5 Goals
Even if fifth-place Arsenal wins its match, Tottenham only needs a draw to secure a top-four finish.
They will be placing last-place Norwich City, a team that has scored the fewest goals in the Premier League, and are likely to sit back and defend with all of their might instead of bombing forward and trying to run up the score; it would not be surprising if their quality allowed them to come away with a win regardless, but with manager Antonio Conte’s five-at-the-back system, it should bee expected that Spurs will try to play for a low-scoring game.
Top Asian Handicap: Watford +2.5
Chelsea has nothing to play for at this point, having been guaranteed Champions League qualification and no longer competing in any external competitions.
The Blues are headed for a squad rebuild this summer with multiple players already on their way out or aggressively pursuing transfers, while several others could also be on the chopping block— as a result, the squad is likely to be heavily rotated as many young players come in and get their debuts for the first team.
Watford could very well come away with a result despite also having nothing to play for (and being guaranteed relegation), so the +2.5 is a solid investment for bettors.
Parlay: Newcastle (+210) / Liverpool (-500)
Newcastle has been one of the elite teams in the Premier League since the January transfer window and the appointment of manager Eddie Howe, even if they have lost their last three matches (to Man City, Arsenal, and Liverpool).
They are facing a team in Burnley that still is playing to avoid relegation but does not have much attacking prowess and is likely to lose.
Liverpool needs to win out to have a hope of securing the league title, and as solid as Wolves’ defense has been, Liverpool’s attack is too prolific to be slowed down.
